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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Cuts 'on hold' at protest school | Cuts 'on hold' at protest school |
| (1 day later) | |
| Proposed teacher redundancies at a secondary school in Caerphilly county have been put on hold after pupils staged a protest walkout. | Proposed teacher redundancies at a secondary school in Caerphilly county have been put on hold after pupils staged a protest walkout. |
| About 150 pupils blocked the road in front of Pontllanfraith Comprehensive on Monday, and three were arrested. | About 150 pupils blocked the road in front of Pontllanfraith Comprehensive on Monday, and three were arrested. |
| The secondary school was classed as "failing" until two weeks ago. | The secondary school was classed as "failing" until two weeks ago. |
| Caerphilly council said "appropriate consultation" was needed together with an "ongoing positive dialogue with all parties". | Caerphilly council said "appropriate consultation" was needed together with an "ongoing positive dialogue with all parties". |
| The school was put into "special measures" in January 2007 but that ended two weeks ago after inspectors said the school had made good progress. | The school was put into "special measures" in January 2007 but that ended two weeks ago after inspectors said the school had made good progress. |
| Pupils claimed a number of teachers at the school near Blackwood were given redundancy notices last week. | Pupils claimed a number of teachers at the school near Blackwood were given redundancy notices last week. |
| Report | Report |
| Previously Caerphilly local education authority said there were "necessary" changes to staffing levels under discussion. | Previously Caerphilly local education authority said there were "necessary" changes to staffing levels under discussion. |
| Pupil Kane Thomas, 15, took part in the protest and said he was concerned about his education. | |
| "There were banners and there were people with writing on their tops saying 'Justice for the teachers' and some of the teachers' names," Cane told BBC Radio Wales. | "There were banners and there were people with writing on their tops saying 'Justice for the teachers' and some of the teachers' names," Cane told BBC Radio Wales. |
| "The teachers that have gone are really, really nice. I really am upset and my drama teacher has left - we need her for my GCSC. | "The teachers that have gone are really, really nice. I really am upset and my drama teacher has left - we need her for my GCSC. |
| "My course work is due in May and without the teachers there is no course work to be given in," he added. | "My course work is due in May and without the teachers there is no course work to be given in," he added. |
| Two 15-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy were arrested during the demonstration outside the school for obstructing the highway and a public order offence. | Two 15-year-old girls and a 13-year-old boy were arrested during the demonstration outside the school for obstructing the highway and a public order offence. |
| Two have been released but one girl remains in police custody. | Two have been released but one girl remains in police custody. |
| Gwent Police said 10 officers were sent to the school. | Gwent Police said 10 officers were sent to the school. |
| Ten police officers were called to the protest | Ten police officers were called to the protest |
| William Graham, Conservative AM for South Wales East, said teachers and pupils had worked "tremendously hard over the past year to raise standard at Pontllanfraith Comprehensive. | William Graham, Conservative AM for South Wales East, said teachers and pupils had worked "tremendously hard over the past year to raise standard at Pontllanfraith Comprehensive. |
| "Together, they raised their school out of this situation, as acknowledged by Inspectors earlier this month. The bond of mutual support is demonstrated by today's protest," Mr Graham said. | "Together, they raised their school out of this situation, as acknowledged by Inspectors earlier this month. The bond of mutual support is demonstrated by today's protest," Mr Graham said. |
| Inspectors who visited from November 2006 said the comprehensive school had failed to hit required standards. | Inspectors who visited from November 2006 said the comprehensive school had failed to hit required standards. |
| There had previously been strike action by 35 teachers provoked by a row over extra responsibility payments. | There had previously been strike action by 35 teachers provoked by a row over extra responsibility payments. |
| A report in March found the school had improved enough not to require constant monitoring and the head teacher had a "clear vision" with "high expectations". | A report in March found the school had improved enough not to require constant monitoring and the head teacher had a "clear vision" with "high expectations". |
| "There is a positive learning ethos in most classrooms and little evidence of the low-level disruption evident at the time of the inspection in 2006," said the report. | "There is a positive learning ethos in most classrooms and little evidence of the low-level disruption evident at the time of the inspection in 2006," said the report. |
| "The number of recorded incidents of misbehaviour has reduced over a quarter compared with the same period a year ago. There has also been a reduction in fixed-term exclusions over the same period, with significantly fewer days lost from school." | "The number of recorded incidents of misbehaviour has reduced over a quarter compared with the same period a year ago. There has also been a reduction in fixed-term exclusions over the same period, with significantly fewer days lost from school." |